Silver medal winning Olympics horse seized

Monday, 13 August 2012

Sad news out of London today. The 10 year old Belgian stallion named London, ridden by Gerco Schroeder in the 2012 Olympics, and which took the silver in both team and individual show jumping has been seized due to bankruptcy proceedings by the owners. The horse, along with other horses owned by the same company was seized shortly after the conclusion of the jumping competition.

Because the Eurocommerce real estate business is in bankruptcy proceedings, there is a question whether the Stal Eurocommerce stables may be a part of those proceedings. The horses were seized to prevent their sale until things can be sorted out. According to one source, the Rabobank is behind the provisional seizure of the horses and therefore London is included.

Just before the weekend, the FEI database was changed to show the ownership of the horses has been transferred to Sileste B.V. Earlier this year, London and other horses were sold to Gevi International, B.V., owned by Ger Visser Jr., son of Eurocommerce owner Ger Visser. This leaves the courts attempting to determine if the stables is part of the Eurocommerce real estate bankruptcy proceedings.

Once the court determines that the equine part of the company is not involved in the bankruptcy of the real estate company, the horse may be sold.

Sources state that London is currently at the stables of Ben Maher, of the Olympic gold medal team for Great Britain. Rumor has it that Ben Maher’s sponsor is interested in buying London. London is apparently valued at approximately 10 million euros.

There are other offers on the table, including one from Qatar, as there is an increased interest in valuable equine in the Middle East as was evident in the recent Olympic equine competitions.

As for Guerco Schroeder, as the rider, this situation must be very stressful. Schroeder had no knowledge of the financial situation. It is difficult when a trainer and rider who doesn’t own the horse, invests so much time into training and bonding with what is now a teammate and friend, to be put into such a position. Hopefully this is only a technicality as sources state that once this is sorted out, London will be back in his own stable in Lochem stand within a few days.